Queer

Meet an over-the-hill Pop Yé-yé singer with a faulty heart, two conservative middle-aged women holding hands in the Galápagos, and the proprietor of a Laundromat with a penchant for Cantonese songs of heartbreak. Rehash national icons: the truth about racial riot fodder-girl Maria Hertogh living out her days as a chambermaid in Lake Tahoe, a mirage of the Merlion as a ladyboy working Orchard Towers, and a high-stakes fantasy starring the still-suave lead of the 1990s TV hit serial The Unbeatables.Heartfelt and sexy, the stories of Amanda Lee Koe encompass a skewed world fraught with prestige anxiety, moral relativism, sexual frankness, and the improbable necessity of human connection. Told in strikingly original prose, these are fictions that plough, relentlessly, the possibilities of understanding Singapore and her denizens discursively, off-centre. Ministry of Moral Panic is an extraordinary debut collection and the introduction of a revelatory new voice.

Colombo, 1990. Maali Almeida—war photographer, gambler, and closet queen—has woken up dead in what seems like a celestial visa office. His dismembered body is sinking in the serene Beira Lake and he has no idea who killed him. In a country where scores are settled by death squads, suicide bombers, and hired goons, the list of suspects is depressingly long, as the ghouls and ghosts with grudges who cluster round can attest. But even in the afterlife, time is running out for Maali. He has seven moons to contact the man and woman he loves most and lead them to the photos that will rock Sri Lanka.Ten years after his prize-winning novel Chinaman established him as one of Sri Lanka’s foremost authors, Shehan Karunatilaka is back with a “thrilling satire” (Economist) and rip-roaring state-of-the-nation epic that offers equal parts mordant wit and disturbing, profound truths.

"The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida" is a gripping, dark yet humorous novel that follows the journey of Maali Almeida, a war photographer, who wakes up dead and must contact his loved ones in the afterlife. The book beautifully interweaves Sri Lankan history, politics and culture with Maali's personal story. The most unique and distinctive feature of the book is its engaging exploration of the afterlife and its vividly depicted characters. Recommended for those who enjoy historical fiction with a twist.

Ministry of Moral Panic could be a good read for someone who is interested in unconventional, thought-provoking stories that explore the complexities of Singaporean culture and society. The book's unique and distinctive feature is its use of moral ambiguity and frank exploration of sexual themes. Readers may appreciate the way author Amanda Lee Koe challenges traditional notions of morality and societal norms.

This book could be a good read for you if you enjoy offbeat and unconventional stories that satirize societal norms. With its collection of quirky tales, Ministry of Moral Panic delves into the absurdities and clashes of different cultures, offering a fresh perspective on the human experience. Readers will be drawn to its thought-provoking narratives that challenge traditional ideas, making it a captivating and unique read.